---
title: "A Brief Visual History of the Ducati Monster"
description: "Ducati celebrates 25 years of its most successful model of all time."
date: "2018-05-02"
modified: "2018-05-03"
authors:
  - name: "Eric Brandt"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/eric-brandt"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/20597/a-brief-visual-history-of-the-ducati-monster"
categories:
  - "Motorcycles"
  - "News"
  - "The Garage"
tags:
  - "Ducati"
  - "ducati monster"
  - "naked bike"
---

# A Brief Visual History of the Ducati Monster

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/05/2006-monster-s2r-1000-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Since it was first produced in March of 1993, the [Ducati](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/20280/ducati-is-planning-a-radar-equipped-motorcycle-for-2020>) Monster has come a long way. The motorcycle often credited with kicking off the “naked bike” style has sold over 250,000 units to become the most popular model for the brand closely associated with sport bikes.

![message-editor%2F1525296389834-1992miguelgalluzzismonsterconceptsketch.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525296389834-1992miguelgalluzzismonsterconceptsketch.jpg>)
*Miguel Galluzzi's Monster Concept Sketch, 1992, *Ducati**

Miguel Galluzzi designed the Ducati Monster with the philosophy, “All you need is: a saddle, tank, engine, two wheels, and handlebars.” Indeed, that’s what the Monster ended up with and it hasn’t strayed very far from that philosophy in the [quarter-century it’s been around](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/19092/ducati-celebrates-25-years-of-the-monster-with-parade-in-france>).

The first time anybody saw a Ducati Monster was in prototype form at the 1992 Cologne International Motorcycle Show. It has a trellis frame from the 851-888 series and a 904cc “Pompone” L-twin engine from the Ducati Supersport range of the time.

![message-editor%2F1525296762874-1993monster900.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525296762874-1993monster900.jpg>)
*Ducati, *1993 Monster 900**

![message-editor%2F1525296789540-1995monster600.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525296789540-1995monster600.jpg>)
*Ducati, *1995 Monster 600**

![message-editor%2F1525296809055-1998monster900cromo.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525296809055-1998monster900cromo.jpg>)
*1998 Monster 900 Cromo, *Ducati**

![message-editor%2F1525296834476-1998monster900s.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525296834476-1998monster900s.jpg>)
*1998 Monster 900 S, *Ducati**

When the prototype debuted, it shocked the motorcycle world. As a mass-produced naked bike, it presented something totally new not only for Ducati, but for the whole industry. It has since become a widely copied motorcycle with imitators like the Suzuki SV650, Honda Hornet, Triumph Speed Triple, and many others.

![message-editor%2F1525297073349-2001monsters4.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297073349-2001monsters4.jpg>)
*Ducati, *2001 Monster S4**

![message-editor%2F1525297104393-2004monsters4r.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297104393-2004monsters4r.jpg>)
*Ducati, *2004 Monster S4R**

![message-editor%2F1525297184911-2005monsters2r800.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297184911-2005monsters2r800.jpg>)
*2005 Monster S2R 800, *Ducati**

![message-editor%2F1525297210948-2006monsters2r10002.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297210948-2006monsters2r10002.jpg>)
*2006 Monster S2R 1000, *Ducati**

![message-editor%2F1525297240012-2006monsters4rs.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297240012-2006monsters4rs.jpg>)
*Monster S4R S, *Ducati**

The defining model for Ducati today is probably the [Scrambler](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/20545/ducati-scrambler-1100-open-house-events-coming-to-select-dealers>). It’s an influential bike in many of the same ways the Monster was when it came out in the early 1990s. It’s something nobody expected from Ducati and it’s one of the bikes that kicked off a new trend. For the Monster, it was naked bikes, and for the Scrambler, it’s the retro/modern craze that’s sweeping through the industry with no signs of slowing down.

![message-editor%2F1525297363766-2007monster695.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297363766-2007monster695.jpg>)
*2007 Monster 695, *Ducati**

![message-editor%2F1525297378889-2008monsters4rstricolore.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297378889-2008monsters4rstricolore.jpg>)
*2008 Monster S4R S Tricolore, *Ducati**

![message-editor%2F1525297404017-2013ducatimonster1100evo20thanniversaryedition.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297404017-2013ducatimonster1100evo20thanniversaryedition.jpg>)
*2013 Monster 1100 Evo 20th Anniversary Edition, *Ducati**

A lot of people fell in love with motorcycling thanks to the Ducati Monster. As it continues to be a hot seller for for the marque, we don’t anticipate the original naked bike going away for a long time.

![message-editor%2F1525297439388-ducatimonster797plus2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297439388-ducatimonster797plus2.jpg>)
*Monster 797 Plus, *Ducati**

![message-editor%2F1525297460506-ducatimonster8211.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297460506-ducatimonster8211.jpg>)
*Monster 821, *Ducati**

![message-editor%2F1525297476641-ducatimonster1200s1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1525297476641-ducatimonster1200s1.jpg>)
*Monster 1200 S, *Ducati**

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/brandt004>)